The Master of Science program is designed for students who wish to further broaden or deepen their knowledge of computer science. Both thesis and non-thesis options are offered; an independent study report is required for the non-thesis option. Master’s students usually participate in faculty research projects to complete their thesis or independent study.

The department is certified with the National Security Agency’s designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. The department has its own network of computers and servers plus a variety of other equipment in several laboratories. The Tech Computer Center supports a much larger network that is also available to the department. Computing equipment at the researchlabs associated with Tech includes both symmetric multiprocessors and special purpose massively parallel computers. The department also has access to massively parallel machines at national laboratories and supercomputing centers.

Students may earn a Master of Science degree in Computer Science or a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science with the Information Technology Option through cooperation with the Information Technology faculty.

Degree Requirements: Master of Science Degree in Computer Science

Without Thesis:

Students must have demonstrated proficiency in the core undergraduate curriculum including the topics normally covered by CS 324, 325, 331, 342, 344, and 423. Proof of proficiency usually requires grades of B or better in these courses or in equivalent courses approved by the department.

Course work approved by the student’s advisory committee fulfilling the general requirements of 27 credit hours for the master’s degree. At least 15 credit hours must be in computer science courses numbered 500 or above, not including CS 590 (Independent Study) or 591 (Thesis). Three of thesehours must be CS 585 (Graduate Seminar).

CS 590: 3 credit hours.

With Thesis:

Students must have demonstrated proficiency in the core undergraduate curriculum including the topics normally covered by CS 324, 325, 331, 342, 344, and 423. Proof of proficiency usually requires grades of B or better in these courses or in equivalent courses approved by the department.

Course work approved by the student’s advisory committee fulfilling the general requirements of 24 credit hours for the master’s degree. At least 15 credit hours must be in computer science courses numbered 500 or above, not including 590 (Independent Study) or 591 (Thesis). Three of these hours must be CS 585 (Graduate Seminar).

Students earning a Master of Science degree in Computer Science can choose the Information Technology Option. The requirements for the Information Technology Option are the same as those for a Master of Science in Computer Science, except that:

Students must demonstrate proficiency in the topics normally covered by CS 324, CS 331, CS 344, IT 321, IT 326, and IT 373. Proof of proficiency usually requires grades of B or better in these courses or in equivalent courses approved by the department.

Course work approved by the student’s advisory committee fulfilling the general requirements of 24 credit hours (with thesis) or 27 credit hours (without thesis) for the master’s degree. At least 15 credit hours must be in computer science courses numbered 500 or above, not including 590(Independent Study) or 591 (Thesis). Three of these hours must be CS 585 (Graduate Seminar). A minimum of 9 credit hours must be in a sequence of upper-division information technology courses approved by the student’s advisory committee.

There is no foreign language requirement for the Master of Science degree in Computer Science or the Master of Science degree in Computer Science with the Information Technology Option. The independent study or thesis topic may be selected, subject to approval from the student’s advisory committee and the computer science chair (or information technology program coordinators), from any area of computer science or information technology.